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G. PARKER.

MALTING'MAOHINE.

Patented Apr. 19, 1887.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. PARKER.

MALTING MACHINE.

No. 361,642. Patented'Apr. 19, 1887.

' mbbmaooco gm'vawtoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUILFORD PARKER, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES S. JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

MALTlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,642, dated April 19, 1887.

Application filed J anunry 15, 1887. Serial No. 224,400.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUILEORD PARKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Norwich, New London county, Connecticut, have madecertain new and useful Improvements in Malting-Machines, which improvements are fully set forth and described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a double or two-compartment machine of my new construction. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the right-hand compartment, (of Fig. 1,) with 1 driving mechanism and front case removed to expose the internal construction of said machine. Fig. 3 is an-end elevation, with driving-pulleys removed and with top of case thrown open. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the 2( case 1 on line a: x of Fig. 1, and illustrates my method of producing an open or slotted floor. In Fig. 5 I have shown asection of the cable which moves my agitators, having attached thereto one of the clamps 18, by which 2 5 said agitators are caused to travel with said cable. I have also shown an end view of said clamp in the same figure for the purpose of illustrating more clearly the anti-friction rolls 20. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an agita- 0 tor-base attached to the cables, but with reversible apron 21 removed. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detached view of the cable-driving mechanism, having added thereto a weighted lever to assist the belt-shipper, as hereinafter described. Fig. 8 shows both end and top views of the agitator-base 17, having apron 21 attached thereto. Fig. 9 shows my preferred method of providing an open floor between the lower and upper chambers. I

My improvements are in that class of maltmachines in which the dry barley is introduced in large quantity,is caused to germinate artificially, and is then aerated, agitated, and dried by mechanical means, my immediate purpose being, first, to provlde a more positive and less expensive means for agltating the grain,in the act of aerating and drying, than has heretofore been used; second, to enable me to use tanks or chambers of rectan- 0 gular shape instead of cylindrical, and, third,

(No model.)

to improve certain details of construction, all of which are described in full hereinafter.

I am aware that devices have been used heretofore for mechanically producing malt, and, so far as I am familiar with the state of the 'art, the most successful of such machines have been composed of circular chambers having a slowly-revolving central vertical shaft carrying a radial arm, to which is fastened a series of plows or agitators which, in a measure, stir up and agitate the grain as said arm moves around. I have foundin practice that in such circular machines the agitator either tends to move the-grain gradually outward from the center, or, if the agitator-blades are shaped to overcome such tendency, the grain inclines to pile up and pack so solidly in front of theag'itator that it has to be shoveled away frequently. It will also be obvious that the agitator in such a form of machine does its heaviest work at the-extreme outer end, requiring great power to keep it in motion and great strength of parts. To overcome the defects named, I have devised the machine which I have illustrated, and which enables me to use an agitator to which direct power may be applied.

Referring to the drawings, the reference-figure 1 indicates a case of general rectangular form, which may be divided lengthwise into a 8c series of compartments,or maybe one continuous chamber, as preferred. I have here shown the case in Fig. 1 as constructed with two aerating-chambers. At a convenient point, preferably somewhat above the center of the case 1, is a floor, 2, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) formed of metallic bars of triangular shape in crosssection, whose acute angles rest in notches in cross-bars 3, secured to case 1, said bars being so located that a series of slits are left between 0 the bars, through which air or steam may be forced up from the lower chamber. Both the upper and lower chambers are provided with man-holes or other means for entering or inspecting the contents of the chambers. As

here shown, the lower chambers are reached through swing-doors 4, which may be raised,

and the upper chambers may be inspected by raising the cap or cover 5, which, for convenience, is hinged to the case and counterbal- 10o anced, as in Fig. 3. By thus hinging the top 5 the entire contents of the upper chamber may be quickly and easily exposed to View and thoroughly lighted.

Extending through the case from end to end are cables 6, one on each side, which pass around drums 7 and 8, hung in proper bearings outside the case. On the shaft which supports drums 8 is a spiral gear, 9, which is actuated by a worm, 1.0. Worm 10 is here shown as driven by tight and loose pulleys and straight and crossed belt-s 11 and 12.

13 indicates a belt-shipper whose rod extends through the lower chamber of one compartment, and is adapted to be moved longitudinally in its bearings. The cables 6 pass through the upper chamber or chambers near the floor and return through the lower chamber or chambers. Secured to one cable, immediately over the shipper 13, is a collar, 14, havingits depending end formed as a c0llar,15, which fits loosely on the shipper-rod. As the cable is caused to move in either'direction collar 15 slides loosely on the shipper-rod until it comes in contact with a collar, 16, fixed on said rod, and as the cable continues its movement the shipper-rod is forced forward and the belts are moved to reverse the movementof the cables. This forward and backward movement is continued so long as the motive power remains connected.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 6, 17 indicates a bed-plate of considerable weight located in the bottom of the upper chamber, reaching from side to side and so formed that its longitudinal edges are quite sharp, so that they may scrape and clean the floor as the bed-plate moves in either direction. This bed-plate may be connected to the cables at will, it being chambered at each end to slip down over clamps 18, illustrated in Fig. 5. These clamps are secured to and travel with the cables and have studs 19 extending upward, on which the bed-plate is supported. Clamp 18 is preferably provided with one or more rollers, 20, which travel on the floor 2 and reduce materially the friction, which otherwise would result. Pivoted to the bed 17 is an apron, 21, having stops 22 to limit its movement in either direction and having its outer edge preferably serrated. (See Fig. 8.)

Assuming now that the upper chamber is partially filled with germinated grain which it is desired to stir and aerate, and assuming that the several elements of my machine have been connected, as described, power is applied to start the cables, and the agitator (17 21) begins to travel slowly along under the grain, forcing the grain upward and finally dropping it over the edge of apron 21, as shown in Fig. 2, thus loosening, separating, and changing the position of every particle of grain. \Vhen the agitator reaches the end of the chamber, the collar 15 moves the shipper-rod, reverses the movement of the cables, and the agitator starts backward. This movementimmediately causes of the box it engages the lower arm of the lever and forces the upper arm inward, tumbling the grain over onto the agitator. As the agitator travels slowly back and forth a pressure of air from the lower chamber. is forced upward between the agitated particles of grain. When it is desired to stop the agitator in one section, but to allow that in the other to act, either agitator may be removed by simply raising it from the studs 19 and laying it lengthwise on the floor between the cables, or byremoving it entirely from the chamber, as most convenient. I

My inclosing-case, being made in rectangular form, may be built of sizes and shapes to fit certain spaces to which circular cases could not be'well adapted. In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a weighted lever, 25, hung to the shipper-rod 13 in such manner that the weight of the ball is thrown past thecenter of gravity just before the belts reach the point where one counteracts the other with a tendency to stop the machine. At this point the added power of said weighted lever keeps the shipper moving until the belts reverse the motion of the drums and cables.

In Fig. 9 I have shown my preferred method of supporting and securing the triangular flooring-bars 2 at points between the end supports, before described. These bars, when practicable, I prefer to use in lengths equal to the length of the chamber, so that there may be few or no abutting ends to work loose and interfere with the free passage of the agitator. At stated distances of one foot, or thereabout, crossbars or girders of the form shown at 26 are provided, each girder being notched to receive the acute angle of bars 2. This notched portion of the girders is shaped in cross -section, substantially, as an arrowpoint. The sharp edges of bars 2, when seated in the girder-notches, extend below the shoulders corresponding to the barbs of the arrowpoint, and may be bent to one side, as shown in Fig. 9, to interlock the bars 2 and girders, I

reciprocating agitators, and these agitators I prefer to propel by mechanism substantially equivalent to that shown; but such driving mechanism I do not claim, broadly, as my invention, and it may be varied as circumstances or judgment may direct.

I am aware that malt has been dried heretofore in rectangular chambers by means of a stirrer formed of scoops or shovels arranged helically around a rotating shaft; also, by means of a similarly-formed brush of split quills, which devices as they are caused to move force the grain from side to side within the chamber. Such devices, however, do not raise and loosen the mass of grain and cause the individual particles to become separated, as does my new form'of agitator, which actually lifts the grain and showers it over the apron or miniature dam 21, allowing the air to pass freely through it and hastening materially the operation of drying.

Having described my invention and the manner in which it operates to produce the desired results, I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In combination, in a malting-machine having an upper and a lower chamber separated by a perforated partition, a stirrer or agitator triangular in cross-section, as herein shown, and provided with the reversible apron 21, and means, substantially as described, for moving said agitator with a reciprocal motion, for the object set forth.

2. In a malting-machine, in combination, a case divided longitudinally into independent series of upper and lower chambers, said upper and lower chamber of each series being separated by a perforated partition, cables passing through theseveral series of chambers, as described, and agitators (one for each upper chamber) formed of a double-edged base-plate secured to and adapted to move with said cables, and having pivoted to their apexes reversible aprons, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination, in a rectangular chamber having a perforated floor, cables extending longitudinally through said chambers, a double-edged agitator secured to said cables andhaving a reversible apron, as described, U

GUILFORD PARKER.

Witnesses: I I

CHAS. S. J OHNSON, TYLER J. HOWARD. 

